'Fanboys' director preps film about 'Star Wars' Chewbacca actor

Chewbacca may finally get his own movie. Sort of. Inferno Entertainment and director Kyle Newman are developing "Chewie," the Black List script centered around Peter Mayhew, the seven-foot three-inch actor who played the wooly Wookiee in the Star Wars movies.

The script, by Evan Susser and Van Robichaux, is set against the backdrop of the making of 1977’s "Star Wars" and tracks Mayhew as he tries to balance a career as a hospital worker while chasing Hollywood dreams by playing a suited alien who would go on to become one of the most iconic screen sidekicks in modern times.

Newman, who is well-known in the "Star Wars" universe for his love of the property and directed the "Star Wars"-themed comedy "Fanboys," secured Mayhew’s life rights in order to further develop the script, which was written initially as a spec.